Earthquakes and Idols

I heard it said recently that the Old Testament represents the age of God the Father, the New Testament represents the age of God the Son and the age we currently live in is the age of God the Holy Spirit. Despite living under the New Covenant and not being commanded any longer to keep Levitical law, I think it’s important to remember that the amazing God we serve does not change and wishes us to keep the Ten Commandments.

During the years I lived in complete rebellion, the way God showed up in my life was to either orchestrate or allow chaos and turmoil in my life in an attempt to get me to repent and turn to Him. I specifically remember a night driving back to my family’s house in tears after a very painful breakup, listening to Zig Ziglar’s powerful testimony, “A Spiritual Journey,” and hearing that still small voice say that Christ is what my life was missing. Still I chose to ignore it, and focused on what I would lose if I followed Him, instead of what I would gain. I was stubbornly making my desires, ambitions, goals and dreams the idols in my life that replaced God. I wanted things my way, even though my way wasn’t working out too well and the warning signs were everywhere.

Now, I want you to take the same hardship I was dealing with on a small-scale due to personal stubbornness, and expand it to a large-scale and think what that might look like today. How about the horrific results of the recent Nepal earthquakes? Keep God’s word in mind:

“You shall have no other gods beforeme.You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” (Exodus 20:3-4).

The first thing I noticed when I looked at the pictures of the immense destruction from the April 25th earthquake in Nepal, was the countless temples left in ruins strewn with buddhas crushed under the rubble. Upon digging into this a little further, I found it very interesting that the Dharahara tower, which was completely destroyed killing almost 200 people, was also destroyed by a previous earthquake in 1934. Before its collapse the tower was topped with the Hindu deity Shiva, who, interestingly enough, is called “the destroyer.” Shiva images are often adorned with a crescent moon, and Shiva’s forehead has a third eye and a serpent wrapped around its neck. One doesn’t have to look too far into occult symbolism to see that this idol has it all.

Perhaps the earthquakes are a wake up call to the country of Nepal and it’s people, who refuse to stop worshiping idols and gods that don’t exist. Perhaps God is calling them to repentance and crushing their false god’s “homes” to prove their lack of existence. My heart breaks to see the tragedy and the thousands of lives lost and damaged. However, we must remember that God hates sin, but loves the sinner, and His every action has a purpose.

Last week in church, our pastor informed us of something that truly amazed me and reinforced the truth of what I have expressed above. He said that many of the missionaries from our church that had been trying to evangelize in Nepal were met with major opposition to the Gospel. Many expressed that the Nepalese people were some of the most stubborn people they had ever tried to evangelize to. But after the earthquakes and seeing their temples destroyed, they began to ask why their gods didn’t save them?

Now amid the chaos and destruction and tragedy, new life is emerging. The hardness of the people’s hearts has begun to melt away and they are open to hearing the Gospel and receiving Christ like never before! God is calling the entire world to repentance, and the signs of Christ’s imminent return are everywhere. Let us take heed from the recent tragedy and continue to lift up Nepal in prayer that their people would repent and turn to Christ!

What idols in your life need to be destroyed so that the abundant life Christ promised can emerge?

About Jason Herrington

After spending fifteen years of his life aggressively pursing financial success in various business endeavors, Jason became disillusioned with what was being taught by the success “experts.” After many years searching for answers amongst new-age teachings, the mystical, the occult, and other spiritual practices, he found that nothing made a lasting difference in his life--which was becoming increasingly confusing and wrought with hardship. No matter how hard he worked he was left with more problems and questions. Then, a few years later he found the one solution that would change his life forever--giving his life to Jesus Christ.
Once a strong skeptic and opponent of Christianity, now Jason is completely in awe of the God who, in His mercy, still made Himself known to him, despite his aversion. Now he is passionate and committed to searching for answers exclusively from God’s Word. His ministry seeks to target any and all individuals attracted to the success and personal development industry, as well as the new age movement, and deliver God’s truth. Visit www.elevate2great.com to see more of his work.

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2 comments

I had wondered about people who are given evidence that their temple gods do not come to their aid or answer any of their prayers simply because they are only stones shaped into a form. It is like the stony heart of man who is depicting his own heart in formation of these idols.
So sad that this world is blinded by the darkness of sn so it takes some terrible and tragic turns for God to awaken us out of our own make believe existence.
Thank you for sharing this article. May it be instrumental in prompting us to be more prayerful for others throughout the world.

You are welcome and thank you for your comment Cora. It is sad that we as humans can be so self-centered and blinded to the truth as we hang on to the beliefs that we hold to justify our own actions. The same sun that melts wax, hardens clay – and that’s how it is with our hearts. Many people will endure hardship and turn to God, and some will close off more.